Music News

Music Software Creator Darren Hoffman Among 2014 "People to Watch"

Oct2

Written by:10/2/2014 2:01 PM

Former UNO Music student Darren Hoffman and partner Kristen McEntyre have been named one of the 2014 top "People to Watch" by New Orleans Magazine. While at UNO, Darren began developing an interactive music learning software, the Tutti Music Player, that allows students to interact with top musicians and customize the learning process. Darren filmed much of the initial core program in the UNO Music Department's Studio 103 with musicians including Shannon Powell, Roland Guerin, Lucien Barbarin, Jason Marsalis, Ed Petersen, and Steve Masakowski. He later added Jason's older brother Wynton to the mix and worked closely with Jazz at Lincoln Center to refine the educational software and support its use in JALC educational programs. Todd Stoll, vice president of education for Jazz at Lincoln Center, told the Times-Picayune that the Tutti program is "basically one of the most transformational uses of technology I've ever seen."